James drums through the pain barrier

If you're lucky enough to be going to see AC/DC in Birmingham this week, spare a thought for James Heatley who is playing through the pain barrier to drum for special guests The Answer.

The acclaimed Irish rockers have been wowing fans worldwide on AC/DC's sell-out Black Ice tour, but Heatley has suffered ligament and tendon damage to his left hand.

It means that, although he gets through each support slot with pain killers, the band has had to pull out of three headlining dates they had planned to squeeze in this week - including Nottingham Rescue Rooms - to promote their second album, Everday Demons.

Singer Cormac Neeson said: "We are bitterly disappointed to have to postpone our UK headline shows especially for all our fans who have been waiting so patiently for so long.

"We have left the decision to the absolute last minute in the hope that the medical problem with our drummer James might get better.

"Unfortunately his hand is swollen and he is in immense pain. He has struggled with painkillers to get through the recent 30 minute support sets on the AC/DC tour and whilst he can perform a short support set, it is a medical impossibility for him to perform a full one hour and fifteen minute headline set at present.

"We are all very upset that we cannot play our full headline show and we will reschedule the postponed shows as soon as we can."

The Nottingham gig has been rescheduled for Friday, July 3.

Neeson added: "As a token of our appreciation to all our disappointed fans we will provide a free and new limited signed tour poster for everyone who has purchased a ticket and this will be distributed at the rescheduled shows.

"Once again we are very sorry at not being able to perform but you know we would never postpone any show unless it was an absolute necessity and in this case we are all hoping that James will make a swift and speedy recovery."